03/01/10 - Releases for March
IN THE NEWS
NOTED IN PASSING
In glancing through the most recent Previews, I ran across a blurb that had me doubled up with laughter. Beginning back in the dim, dark days of 1972, and continuing off and on into 1979, DC ran a back-up feature in Action, The Brave and the Bold and Detective Comics known as "The Human Target." These adventures of Christopher Chance were light mystery/adventure stories that featured a bodyguard for hire with art was by such luminaries as Neal Adams, Dick Giordano, and Howard Chaykin and stories by the character's co-creator, Len Wein. Eventually the series fell by the wayside and was later revived as a Vertigo character where, as with most things Vertigo, the lead character of Christopher Chance was transformed into a dark, brooding and semi-nutso character: a persona that continued throughout most of the early 2000s.
Today, being 2010, we have a new television show based called The Human Target (a show I find enjoyable) and DC has also started a new comic series called (no surprise) Human Target. Now, what I find laughable in all this is that DC doesn't refer to their past incarnations of the character (from the two episodes I've seen so far, the latest TV incarnation is mainly based on the early adventures of the character) when soliciting this new comic. Nope. Nor do we get a collection of the earliest stories. What we do get is the blurb which says, "Based on the anticipated series from Warner Bros. TV..." Guess history gets flushed and we should be happy that Len Wein gets a co-creator credit at the end of the show...
AC COMICS
Nothing of interest this month.
DARK HORSE
(NOTE: According to the Dark Horse website, this book shipped early and is in stores now.)Tarzan Archives: The Jesse Marsh Years Vol. 5
Reprints another ...well, once again Dark Horse ain't telling us what's what, but if earlier volumes are any indication, you'll get another six issues of Tarzan: all lovingly rendered by Jesse Marsh. Of most interest in this volume is the introduction of Dr. MacWhirtle, the eccentric scientist who's scientific curiosity sometimes leads to trouble for Tarzan. Worth a squint. SRP $49.99
DC
Robin Archives Vol. 2
Reprints the Robin solo stories from Star Spangled Comics #86-105 by Mooney, Mortimer and the ever popular various. Like the Batman and Robin stories found in Detective and Batman, the late Golden Age Robin stories also have a charm all their own. Robin wasn't a kid-sidekick in these tales, was not psychotic, nor a brooding teenager seeking to escape from the shadow of his mentor. Instead, Robin functioned like a miniature adult, who fought crime because it was the right thing to do and, (surprise! surprise!) enjoyed what he was doing. Worth a good squint and possible inclusion on your sagging bookshelf. SRP $59.99
Showcase Presents: World's Finest Vol. 3
Reprints the Superman/Batman stories from World's Finest #146-160, 162-164, and 171-173 by Hamilton, Swan and others. Another dose of Weisinger era stories, most of which feature the art of Curt Swan inked by George Klein. At the time these stories originally appeared, Weisinger was editor of any DC title that featured Superman and it was starting to show. While the stories here are some good Silver Age fun, they tend towards the improbable and, in some cases, downright silly. Of particular interest is that Edmond Hamilton left the title (and DC) midway through the run featured here and was replaced, for a time, by Jim Shooter-the same Jim Shooter, who, as we all know, went on to become the EIC of Marvel (but, that's another story). Lots of imaginary stories, including Bruce Wayne as Clark Kent's adopted brother, but not as enjoyable as the previous volume. Give it a squint, but that's about all I can recommend. SRP $17.99
Wonder Woman Chronicles Vol. 1
A new addition to the DC Chronicles series, this time reprinting the Wonder Woman stories in chronological order from All-Star Comics #8, Sensation Comics #1-9 and Wonder Woman #1 by William Moulton Marston and Harry G. Peters. Long time readers of this column know my feelings about Wonder Woman, so I will say no more, except that you're on your own with this one. SRP $17.99
FANTAGRAPHICS
Our Gang Vol. 4
Reprints another 112 pages of Walt Kelly's work on the Our Gang comic of the 40s. This time around, most of the book is devoted to a 4 part saga in which the gang team up with Professor Gravy on his showboat. Great fun and worth a squint. SRP $14.99
Krazy and Ignatz
Fantagraphics has decided to go back at start reprinting George Herriman's Krazy Kat from the very beginning (their current series started with the 10th year). This volume will collect the first Sunday from 1916 through 1918, along with added features. Not my cup of tea, but possibly yours, so I leave it to you. SRP $24.99
The Classic Pin-Up Art of Jack Cole
When Jack Cole left comic books, he started to produce single panel cartoons for the Humorama line of digests. Most of these drawings were of the "good girl" art variety and it wasn't long after that Cole was hired by Hugh Hefner to produce cartoons for Playboy as the magazine's marquee cartoonist: a position he held until his death at the age of 43. This volume will collect and indeterminate number of Cole's single panels and it is not clear if the collection will include the panels from Playboy. Worth a squint, but look it over carefully before you plunk your money down. SRP $18.99
The Culture Corner
Fantagraphics is bringing out another volume of Basil Wolverton, the master of the grotesque, which will reprint the series of half-page strips that were originally presented in Whiz Comics from 1945-1952. Called "The Culture Corner," the series featured the usual Wolverton stylings as the strip's star, Croucher K. Conk, Q.O.C. (Queer Old Coot), instructed the reader in the cultured manner to handle any number of situations one might encounter. Sample titles-"How to Eat Beans Without Soiling Your Jeans," "How to Eat Crackers in Bed," "How to Get a Stamp Damp," and "How to Kick a Person in the Teeth." Also included will be Wolverton's original pencil art for each strip and this is the first time these bits of whimsy have been reprinted since their original publication. Well worth a squint! SRP $22.99
IDW
As part of The Library of American Comics, IDW is starting in with Al Capp's long-running strip with the release of Li'l Abner Vol. 1. This volume will present both dailies and Sundays from 1934-1936 and IDW claims that the vast majority of the Sundays have never been collected before. A quick check of the Internet confirms this and shows that Kitchen Sink reprinted the Abner strips from 1934-1961, but these were only the complete dailies, so for you Capp fans out there, here's a chance to see the Sundays you've never seen, although the daily material will be a duplicate of your Kitchen Sink volumes. Give it a squint and see what you think. SRP $49.99
MARVEL
Marvel Masterworks: The X-Men Vol. 8
Reprints Avengers #110-111, Incredible Hulk #172, 180 & 181, Captain America #172-175, Marvel Team-Up #23 & 38, Defenders #15-16, Giant-Size Fantastic Four #4 and the covers to X-Men #81-93 by a whole ton of creators from Englehart to Trimpe. It may seem hard to believe, but when when The X-Men premiered in 1963, they were not an instant hit, nor did they fair well throughout there first run in the Marvel Universe. Sales were never great and even a last ditch attempt on the part of fan favorites Roy Thomas and Neal Adams couldn't stave off the inevitable. After 66 issues, the X-Men title only featured reprints and it wouldn't be until 1975, and Giant-Size X-Men, that the flagship mutant book would again feature new stories. But, the X-Men didn't disappear from Marvel. No, they were constant guest stars in other Marvel titles. This volume will collect all the X-Men appearances between the end of their first series and their return in Giant-Size X-Men and is quite a mixed bag. As favorite guest stars, the X-Men fared well when teamed with the Avengers and Captain America, but many of the other stories were just attempts to keep some of the characters in the public eye. Of course, the first appearance of Wolverine is also included and the first appearance of Jamie Madrox, but this is the sort of collection that is best for the completist, as the stories function better in the context of their respective titles. Sort of worth a squint, but I wish Marvel would concentrate on getting some of their other series advanced in their reprintings. SRP $54.99
Marvel Masterworks: Atlas Era Tales to Astonish Vol. 3
Reprints Tales To Astonish #21-30 by Lee, Lieber, Kirby, Ditko, Heck, Colan and Forgione. What you get here lots of giant monster combined with borderline horror and some science fiction thrown in for good measure. Some great Kirby work here, particularly in his covers that hearken back in tone to the work he and Simon did in the 50s. One of the foundations of the Marvel Universe also appears in #27, where Hank Pym becomes "The Man in the Ant Hill. Most of this material has been reprinted by Marvel in other forms, so be sure to check your collection before you swipe that credit card. Worth a squint and great fun! SRP $$59.99
Thor: Tales of Asgard
Well, Marvel threw me a curve and released the "Tales of Asgard" stories as a non-Masterworks hardcover. In any event, this will include the stories that originally appeared as back-ups in Journey Into Mystery/The Mighty Thor #97-145 by Lee and Kirby (recently reprinted as a mini-series). These tales attempted to give a backstory to the Thor series and not only fleshed out some of the concepts, but also established the history of Asgard ala Marvel. Good stuff that belongs up on your sagging bookshelf providing they don't mess up the color! SRP $29.99
Marvel Masterworks: The Invincible Iron Man Vol. 1
Reprints Tales of Suspense #39-50 by Lee, Leiber, Bernstein, Heck, Kirby and Ditko (and assorted inkers). Of the early Marvel characters, Iron Man was the least derivative, having nearly no ties to comic characters of the past (the closest was probably Robotman, who's brain had been transplanted into the body of a robot). Sure, scientists had for years used themselves as test subjects, but in the case of Iron Man, he became a test subject out of necessity, since his experimental armor was created to save his life. Presented here are the earliest adventures of Tony Stark, beginning with the origin story that was followed pretty closely in the recent movie. From there, the stories, quite ably drawn by Don Heck, lay the foundation for the years that follow and also have a soap-opera feel to them, as Stark must come to grips with the chest plate he must wear to keep his heart working (in the comic, this wasn't resolved until sometime in the 80s). These are fun stories that deserve wider exposure, since they are not only well written, but well drawn, as well. I've often said that Iron Man is probably as close to a Stan Lee solo comic as we will ever see, so give it a squint and add it to your sagging bookshelf, already! SRP $24.99
TWOMORROWS PUBLISHING
Alter Ego #92
An issue that will focus on DC's Sword of Sorcery and Claw the Unconquered, Charlton's Hercules, Gold Key's Dagar the Invincible, lots of fantasy art from various Marvel titles, and the independently produced First Kingdom. All this along with the usual features from the FCA. SRP $6.95
Back Issue #39
A special "April Fools" issue with Keith Giffen and Robert Loren Fleming on Ambush Bug, Byrne's She-Hulk, interviews with Fred Hembeck, Alan Kupperberg, Bob Burden and histories of Spider-Ham, Forbush-Man, Reid Fleming, Mad in the 1970s and Marvel's Mad knockoffs along with scads of art. SRP $6.95
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